Jones wins Scotties in all-Manitoba final
Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones has won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for the sixth time in her career, tying her with Colleen Jones of Nova Scotia for the all-time record.
Manitoba beat Wild Card Kerri Einarson 86 on Sunday in the title draw at the Canadian women’s curling championship at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton.
The victory was sealed on Einarson’s last rock in the 10th end when she was unable to get it to slide to the button after hitting another rock. Jones didn’t need to throw her last rock.
“It means a lot,” Jones said about matching the record. “We’ve had a lot of disappointment over the last few weeks. You never know when it’s going to be our last year as a team. It feels great.”
Jones, the Olympic champion from the Sochi 2014 Games, won her first national title in 2005 and says it’s a thrill to be compared to Nova Scotia’s Jones, who last won a Scotties in 2005.
“Colleen Jones is one of the legends. We’re right up there now,” said Jones, whose team includes third Shannon Birchard, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn McEwen. “It’s so humbling, it’s just mind boggling to me.”
Birchard was a late addition for Manitoba. The 23-year-old made her first Scotties appearance in place of Kaitlyn Lawes, who is representing Canada at the Winter Olympics in mixed doubles.
“It’s pretty unbelievable. I don’t even have words right now, I’m speechless,” said Birchard. “I’m so overjoyed and so happy that they chose me to come along. This has been a dream of mine for a really long time.”
Kristin MacCuish led Team Wild Card at 89 per cent.
Jones said Einarson and her foursome played a great game and that it was similar to their Page 1-2 playoff draw a night earlier. Einarson was emotional from the loss. “We were in control and I knew that draw I missed for three was going to bite me in the butt, and it did, which was unfortunate,” said Einarson, supported by teammates third Selena Kaatz, second Liz Fyfe and lead Kristin MacCuish.
Throughout the match, the crowd of 3,840 had Team Wild Card’s back.
Einarson said it was pretty amazing to have that support.
“When they are just cheering for us, it gave us so much more energy to keep going,” she said. “That’s truly awesome. I really appreciate the fan support. It gives you goosebumps every time they cheer for you.”
Einarson defeated Nova Scotia’s MaryAnne Arsenault 12-9 in Sunday morning’s semifinal to book her spot in the late afternoon title match against Jones. Jones earned her spot in the final by beating Einarson Saturday night in the Page 1-2 playoff.
Einarson made it into the Scotties by beating Chelsea Carey’s Calgary rink in the playin game on Day 1 of the tournament.
Team Wild Card led the final 4-2 after five ends.